Barrel ring



y 1939. F. R. SCHAEFER ET AL 2,159,362

BARREL RING Filed Fb. 18, 1936 INVENTOR. fk-oE/wc/r 1? .Sc/MEFER ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARREL RING Jersey Application February 18, 1936, Serial N0. 64,520

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in barrel rings, that is to say rings for clamping and sealing removable heads upon open ended steel barrels or drums. It has reference particularly to a closing and sealing ring such that the strength of the closure is relatively great, that is capable of withstanding unusually heavy shocks such as may be encountered for example when the container falls several feet in inverted diagonal position and strikes an unyielding surface on the chime of the container. I'he specifications established for steel containers intended for certain purposes call for the ability of the container when filled with stated material to remain tight after being dropped in such inclined inverted position upon a cement floor from a height of a stated number of feet. It is a difiicult matter to so construct containers of comparatively large size as to withstand tests of this kind, and the present invention is designed to provide a satisfactory closure for that purpose.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a rigid ring contracting and holding means adapted to maintain the ends of the ring in circular alignment under severe shocks of any kind.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a separable pivotal connection between the two parts of the contracting clamp, this pivotal connection insuring an even movement of the two ends of the ring toward each other during the operation of the contracting means.

A further object is the provision of supplemental means for holding the two elements of the contracting clamp in rigid relation after the clamp is drawn into fully closed position, said supplemental means preventing dislocation of the ring ends relatively to each other either vertically or horizontally.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sealing ring of novel cross section, such that its compressing effect is most rapid at the time that the contraction of the ring is begun, while the rapidity of the compressing effect decreases and the leverage increases as the contracting movement of the ring nears its completion.

Still another object is the provision of a rim for the drum so formed in crosssection as to reenforce and strengthen the same, and thereby to increase the capacityv of the container to resist shocks of impact taken on the chime of the container.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as we proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a fragment of a steel barrel embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View on a larger scale of a fragment of the sealing ring viewed from the inner side thereof, and showing the clamp by means of which the ring is contracted, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of a barrel taken upon a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing It] represents an open-ended metallic container, such as a drum 01' barrel, provided with a rim H at its open end. The container is adapted to be closed by a head I2 which is provided with an outer upstanding wall l3 adapted to fit within the side wall of the container, and a peripheral flange I4 adapted to overhang the rim I l of the container. The flange M is preferably rounded somewhat, as shown, in order to better receive and hold an annular gasket l5, formed preferably of soft rubber of tubular cross section.

The rim I l is of special form, and much stronger than the rims conventionally provided in containers of this character. It is produced by rolling the metal of the side wall, as is commonly done, but the rolling operation in the present instance is carried much further than has been the practice heretofore, so that the rolled metal after striking the exterior wall of the container is deflected upwardly and preferably outwardly, as shown at It in Fig. 4, and the extreme edge is caused to engage or substantially engage the outwardly bent portion of the rolled metal at the top of the rim. In this manner a double wall of metal is provided along the inner side of the rim. If arranged as illustrated at l6, furthermore, there results a truss effect which still further strengthens the construction and renders it doubly effective in resisting heavy impacts delivered on the chime of the container.

The closure is of the type wherein the head i2 is drawn down to compress gasket l5 by means of a closing and sealing ring I! which is generally 0- shaped in cross section, the upper part of the ring engaging the flange M of the head and the lower part of the ring engaging beneath the rounded rim ll. As will be apparent, the contraction of the ring I! produces a camming action tending to draw the flange I4 and rim closer together.

In the present case we provide two clamp elements l8 and I9 which are sheet metal stampings formed of metal of approximately the same gauge as the ring IT. 'The main or body portions of these elements are fiat and arranged in the same plane substantially when the ring is in closed position. They each have upwardly extending curved arms 20 and 2! respectively, which are caused to embrace the ring I? adjacent the ends thereof, and are secured to the same preferably by spot welds. The two clamp elements 18 and 19 also have flanges 22 and 23 which extend at right angles to the body portions of the elements. flanges 22 and 23 terminate at their upper ends just below the ring II but at their lower ends they come together, where a hinge connection is formed between them permitting pivotal move ment about a vertical axis. This connection, which is separable, is conveniently made by forming a socket 2 1 in one of the flanges and a boss 25 in the other flange. The engaging contours of the boss and socket are preferably semi-circular, so that they can turn upon eachother readily.

Through aligned holes in the flanges 22 and 23, rather closely adjacent the ring ll, we insert a bolt 26. A nut 27 is threaded onto the bolt, and when tightened down draws the two clamping elements I8 and. I9 toward each other, thereby contracting the ring H. In order to get the ring i1 over the flange M of the container head and the rim ll of the container, it is of course necessary to either loosen the bolt 25 considerably or take it entirely out of the clamp. When the ring is in place the ends thereof tend to stand out from the rim of the container more or less tangentially for a short distance on either side of the split. When the nut 21 is tightened the boss 25 enters the socket 24, the clamp elements then standing at a slight angle with respect to each other. Thereafter, as the nut 21 is further tightened the clamp elements turn about a vertical axis through the center of boss 25 until the body portions of the two elements come into substantially the same plane, when the ring is fully contracted and hugs the rim of the container closely even at the point of the split in the ring.

Between the bolt 26 and the hinge 24, 25 we provide an interlock between the two clamp elements l8 and !9, which cooperates with the bolt and the hinge to prevent relative movement of the clamp elements transversely as well as in a vertical direction. The hinge 26, 25 tends to prevent relative movement transversely, but it is not sufiicient to hold the parts securely in the event of heavy impact on the chime of the container. The interlock may advantageously consist of two heavy gauge metal tongue and groove members 28 and 29, the member 28 being welded or otherwise secured to the clamp element I9, and the member 29 being similarly secured to the clamp element I8. Preferably these two members at their outer ends abut against the flanges 23 and 22 respectively. The tongue .on the member 28 tapers, as shown in Fig. 3, and its outer extremity extends beyond the edge of element 58 when the parts are in closed position. The grooveof member 29 is tapered upon the same angle as the tongue, and the two extremities of this groove member overlap the clamp element i9. It will be obvious therefore that when the nut 21 is tightened down sufficiently to cause the tongue and groove to make close contact with each other, the

clamp elements will be locked against relatively vertical movement, and because of the overlapping of these members upon the inner walls of the elements I8 and Hi all relative movement of the latter elements in a direction at right angles to their common plane will be likewise prevented.

In the lower portions of the-flanges 22 and 23 we may providesmall holes 36 and 3! through which a wire 32 may be threaded. The ends of this wire may be joined by a seal 33.

It will be observed that in the form of the invention illustrated the bolt 26 and the interlock members 28 and 29 are largely concealed by the body portions of the clamp elements l8 and I9, and that the clamp as a whole presents a neat appearance. It also stands close to the wall of the container, projecting very little beyond the periphery of the ring ll. Hence it does not interfere with the storage of the containers compactly, and is not subject to damage in the handling or transportation of the same.

While we prefer to locate the clamp as herein illustrated and described, it will be apparent that if desired the clamp may be so attached to the ring as to extend horizontally inward above the head of the container. Other changes within the scopeof the appended claims may likewise be employed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a container of the class described, a split closing and sealing ring adapted to be contracted into closing position, a pair of clamping elements attached to the ends of said ring extending away from the ring side by side, said elements standing substantially in the same plane, interlocking members attached to said elements on one side thereof adapted to prevent relative movement of the saidelements in their own plane, the interlocking member on each element overlapping the other element, whereby relative movement at right angles to the plane of the elements is also prevented, and means for drawing said clamping elements toward each other.

2. In a container of the class described, a split closing and sealing ring adapted to be contracted into closing position, a pair of clamping elements attached to the ends of said ring extending away from the ring side by side, said elements standing substantially in the same plane, interlocking tongue and groove members attached to said elements on one side thereof, whereby relative movement of the said elements in their own plane is prevented, the interlocking member of each element overlapping and engaging the other element, whereby relative movement at right angles to the plane of. the elements is also prevented, and means for drawing said clamping elements toward each other.

3.,In a container of the class described, ,a split closing and sealing ring adapted to be contracted into closing position, a pair of clamping elements attached to the ends of said ring, said clamping elements extending downwardly outside of the container side by side, a separable pivotal connection between the free ends of said clamping elements, said pivotal connection beingadapted to permit pivotal movement between the elements around a vertical axis through the ring, and a bolt mounted in said clamping elements adjacent the ring, said bolt being adapted when tightened to draw the ends of the ring together.

i. In a container of the class described, a split closing and sealing ring adapted to be contracted to closing position, a pair of clamping elements attached to the ends of said ring, said clamping elements extending away from the ring parallel to each other and comprising fiat portions in substantially the same plane and flanges at right angles to said plane, said flanges at the free ends of the clamping elements extending toward each other, a separable pivotal connection in the flanges of the two elements at the free extremities of the latter, said pivotal connecting. being adapted to permit pivotal movement between the elements around a vertical axis, and means mounted in said flanges adjacent the ring for drawing the ends of the ring together.

5. In a container of the class described, a split closing and sealing ring adapted to be contracted to closing position, a pair of clamping elements attached to the ends of said ring, said clamping elements extending away from the ring parallel to each other and comprising flat portions in substantially the same plane and flanges at right angles to said plane, said flanges at the free ends of the clamping elements extending toward each other, a separable pivotal connection in the flanges of the two elements at the free extremities of the latter, said pivotal connection being adapted to permit pivotal movement between the elements around a vertical axis, means mounted in said flanges adjacent the ring for drawing the ends of the ring together, and interengaging tongue and groove members carried by the said clamping elements between said last named means and said pivotal connection.

6. In a container of the class described, a spli closing and sealing ring adapted to be contracted to closing position, a pair of clamping elements attached to the ends of said ring, said clamping elements extending away from the ring parallel to each other and comprising fiat portions in substantially the same plane and flanges at right angles to said plane, said flanges at the free ends of the clamping elements extending toward each other, a separable pivotal connection in the flanges of the two elements at the free extremities of the latter, said pivotal connection being adapted to permit pivotal movement between the elements around a vertical axis, means mounted in said flanges adjacent the ring for drawing the ends of the ring together, and interengaging tongue and groove members carried by the said clamping elements between said last named means and said pivotal connection, said tongue and groove members being flat and being secured to the fiat portions of the clamping elements inwardly of the flanges on the latter.

FREDERICK R. SCHAEFER. RAYMOND W. EMERY. 

